Stent fracture and occlusion after treatment of symptomatic vertebral artery ostium stenosis with a self-expanding device. A case report.

Endovascular stenting with a balloon expandable device is currently the preferred treatment modality for symptomatic proximal vertebral artery stenosis, but high rates of in-stent restenosis remain a major problem, for which stent fracture might be a contributing factor. Limited reports showed that placement of self-expanding stents in the proximal vertebral artery might reduce restenosis; no stent fracture has been reported to date. We describe here a new case of fracture and occlusion of a self-expanding stent after endovascular treatment of symptomatic vertebral artery ostium stenosis.